Toothbrush and gum massager



July 25, 1961 R. s. NIX ETAL ,2

TOOTHBRUSH AND GUM MASSAGER Filed Dec. 7, 1959 INVENTORf RUFUS s. NIX JAMES B. MQCABE BY wfw.

ATTORNEYS United Sates atent 2,993,220 TOOTHBRUSH AND GUM MASSAGER Rufus S. Nix, 1605 Linda-Vista, and James B. McCabe, 1024 S. 17th St., both of Birmingham, Ala. Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,611 4 Claims. (CI. 15-22) This invention relates to a toothbrush and more particularly to a toothbrush which shall have a brush element adapted for pivotal movement relative toa handle, together with means for holding the brush element in selected position whereby brushing of the teeth at each side of the mouth and massage of the gums may be accomplished in an improved manner.

Another object of our invention is to provide a toothbrush of the character designated in which the bristles of the brush element project outwardly in a direction to extendv generally normal, or generally at a right angle to the handle at all pivoted positions of the brush element, whereby the bristles extend in a direction generally at a right angle to the direction of movement of the brush element at all times.

Another object of our invention is to provide a toothbrush of the character designated which shall be particularly adapted for power operation, thereby facilitating the brushing of teeth and massage of the gums.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a toothbrush of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which may be readily associated with conventional type power units.

Heretofore in the art to which our invention relates, various types of toothbrushes have been devised. However, so far as we are aware, such toothbrushes have not been readily adapted for use on power units due to the fact that the teeth at the sides of the month are not brushed eltectively. Also, with some prior power operated toothbrushes, the bristles of the brush move in a rotary direction rather than in a direction parallel to the long axis of the teeth, whereby the teeth are not cleaned efiectively. To overcome these and other difiiculties, we provide a toothbrush in which the brush element is mounted for pivotal movement on the handle in such a manner that the bristles of the toothbrush project outwardly in a direction to extend substantially at a right angle to the handle at all pivoted positions of the brush element, whereby when the entire brush element is pivoted approximately 90 to the handle the bristles still extend substantially normal to the handle and the teeth can be brushed in such a manner that the brush element is moved parallel to the long axis of the teeth when the handle is reciprocated along its long axis.

Toothbrushes illustrating features of our invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush, partly broken away and in section, showing the same operatively connected to a power unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective View, broken away, showing the manner in which the brush element is connected to the handle;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, drawn to a smaller scale, and showing the manner in which the brush element is held at selected positions relative to the handle; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view showing a modified form of connection between the brush element and the handle.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of our invention, we show a brush element mounted for pivotal movement adjacent one end of a handle 11. The brush element 10 has the usual bristles 12 which project outwardly of one side of the brush ice element 10, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, the brush element 10 is mounted on the handle 11 whereby the brush element is adapted for pivotal movement in a single plane with the bristles thereof projecting outwardly in a direction to extend generally normal to the handle at all pivoted positions of the brush element.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, we show one means for mounting the brush element '10 on the handle 11. Mounted adjacent one end of the brush element 10 is a bearing member 13. Secured to the handle 11 is a generally U-shaped member 14 having its legs 16 and 17 anchored to the handle, as shown. The base 18 of the U-shaped member 14 extends through the bearing member 13, whereby the brush element 10 is mounted for pivotal movement in a single plane relative to the handle 11.

To hold the brush element 10 at selected positions relative to the handle 11, a generally U-shaped member 19 is mounted on the end of the brush element adjacent the handle 11. That is, the legs 21 and 22 of the U-shaped member 19 are anchored to the brush element 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Angularly disposed olfset portions 23 are provided in the generally U-shaped member 19 outwardly of the brush element 10 in position to engage the adjacent leg 16 of the U-shaped member 14. One or both of the U-shaped members 14 and 19 are formed of a resilient material whereby the leg 16 of the U-shaped member 14 flexes or snaps into selected ones of the oft-set portions 23, thereby holding the brush element 10 at selected angular positions relative to the handle 11. The U-shaped members 14 and 19 thus form latch members for holding the brush element in selected positions. Preferably, the ofi-set portions 23 are approximately apart, as shown, whereby there is an olT-set portion 23 adjacent each side of the U-shaped member 19 and one off-set portion'23- intermediate the other olfset portions whereby the brush element 10 may be held in substantially parallel alignment With the handle 11 or at right angles thereto, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.

The handle 11 of the toothbrush is adapted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement whereby the bristles 12 of the brush element 10 extend in a direction substantially normal to the direction of movement of the handle 11 and the brush element 10. In FIG. 1 of the drawing, we show the handle 11 as being reciprocated by a power unit indicated generally at 24, which may be a conventional electric motor having power supplied thereto through a flexible conduit 26. The power unit drives a rotary member 27 which is operatively connected by a pin 28 to one end of a reciprocable member 29. The other end of the reciprocable member 29 is provided with a bearing 31 for receiving an end portion 32 of an L-shaped bracket 33, as shown in FIG. 1. The L-shaped bracket 33 is secured to an inner sleeve member 34 which is adapted for sliding movement within an outer sleeve member 36. That is, the outer sleeve member 36 is fixedly secured to the power unit 24 while the inner sleeve 34 is adapted for reciprocatory motion within the outer sleeve.

The L-shaped bracket 33 is provided with an inwardly extending, curved spring member 37 which is adapted to the power unit is energized only while the brush element is pressed against the teeth being brushed. tACCOl'dingly, the brush element 10 is not reciprocated while the I brush element is out of contact with the teeth, thus preventing toothpaste or the like from being slung off the brush element while it is out of contact with the teeth.

To further secure the handle 11 to the movable sleeve 34, inwardly projecting spring members 39 are provided on the sleeve 34 in position to engage recesses 41 in the handle 11. By providing the cooperating projections and recesses in the sleeve 34 and handle 11, the handle .11 may be easily inserted into the sleeve 34 and removed therefrom.

An arm 40 carrying a counterweight 43 is pivotally connected at one end of the handle 11 by a pivot pin 45, whereby the off-set positions of the brush element 10 may be counterbalanced. That is, as the brush element 10 is moved to one side to a dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 the counterweight 40 is moved to the opposite side ofthe handle.

From the foregoing description, the operation of our improved toothbrush will be readily understood. The handle 11 is inserted into the movable sleeve 34 whereby the resilient projections 37 and '39 snap into the recesses 38 and 41, respectively, thereby detachably connecting the handle to the power unit 24, whereby the handle 11 is reciprocated lengthwise or in a longitudinal direction.

To brush the inner surface of the teeth and occlusal surfaces of the molar teeth, the brush element 10 is preferably left in the solid line position shown in FIG. 3. However, to brush the outward surfaces of all the teeth, the brush element 10 is moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. That is, the brush element 18 is rotated to one side whereby it extends at right angles to the handle 11 with the bristles of the brush extending in a direction substantially normal to the handle. The brush element may then be inserted easily into one side of the mouth whereby the bristles are reciprocated in a direction parallel to the long axis of the teeth when the handle is reciprocated in a direction parallel to its long axis. After that side of the mouth is brushed, the brush element 10 is rotated to the other dotted line position, shown in FIG. 3, whereby the other side of the mouth may be brushed in a similar manner.

InFIG. 4 of the drawing, we show a slightly modified connection between a brush element 10* and a brush handle 11*. The ends 21 and 22 of a U-shaped member 19 are anchored to one end of the brush element 10 as shown. Secured to the inner surface of the U-shaped member 19*, adjacent the base thereof, is a bearing unit 42 which is adapted to receive a base portion 43 of a U-shaped member 14, having parallel leg members 44. The free ends of the leg members 44 are secured to the handle 11 as shown. Extending from one or both of the legs 44 of the U-shaped member 14 is a detent 46. Angularly spaced recesses 47 are provided in the outer surface of the U-shaped member 19 in position to receive the detent 46 whereby the brush element ltl is held in selected positions relative to the handle 11 The operation of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 4 is substantially the same as the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the only difference being the means for holding the brush element 10 at selected positions relative to the handle 11 From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have provided an improved toothbrush which is effective to brush teeth in an improved manner. By providing a reciprocable handle having a brush element pivotally connected thereto for movement in a single plane, together with bristles which project outwardly in a direction to extend generally normal to the handle at all pivoted positions of the brush element, the bristles are in position to move parallel to the long axis of the teeth even though the brush element be pivoted from one side of the handle to the other. Also, by providing a toothbrush having a handle which is detachably connected to the movable sleeve of a power unit, a single power unit may be employed to operate several individual toothbrushes. For example, a family might have a single power unit and each member of the family have his separate brush which would be inserted in the power unit.

While we have shown only two means for connecting the brush element to the handle, it will be apparent that various other means may be employed for holding the brush element in selected positions relative to the handle.

While we have shown our invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall he placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I What we claim is:

l. A toothbrush and gum massager comprising a handle, power means operatively connected to said handle for imparting longitudinal reciprocatory movement to said handle, a brush element mounted adjacent one end for pivotal movement in a single plane adjacent one end of said handle with the bristles of said brush projecting outwardly in a direction to extend generally normal to said handle at all pivoted positions of said brush element, means holding said brush element at selected positions relative to said handle, and a counterweight pivotally mounted on said handle in position to be moved to selected positions relative to the handle to thereby counterbalance the brush element.

2. A toothbrush and gum massager comprising a handle, power means operatively connected to said handle for imparting longitudinal reciprocatory movement to said handle, a brush element mounted adjacent one end for pivotal movement in a single plane adjacent one end of said handle with the bristles of said brush projecting outwardly in a direction to extend generally normal to said handle at all pivoted positions of said brush element, means holding said brush element at selected positions relative to said handle, a switch element in circuit with said power means for energizing and deenergizing said power means, and means operatively connecting said switch element to said handle whereby the switch element is actuated by engagement of the brush element with the teeth to be brushed.

3. A toothbrush and gum massager comprising a handle adapted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement, a. brush element, a bearing member carried by one end of said brush element, a generally U-shaped member having its legs anchored to one end of said handle with the base of said U-shaped member positioned outwardly of said handle and extending through said bearing member whereby said brush element is adapted for pivotal movement in a single plane relative to said handle, a second generally U-shaped member having its legs anchored to the end of said brush element adjacent said handle, there being angularly disposed otf-set portions in said second generally U-shaped member outwardly of said brush element in position to engage the first mentioned U-shaped member whereby said brush element is held at selected positions relative to said handle, and bristles carried by said brush element and projecting outwardly in a direction to extend generally normal to said handle at all pivoted positions of said brush element.

4. A toothbrush and gum massager comprising a handle adapted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement, a brush element, a bearing unit carried by one end of said brush element, a generally U-shaped member at one end of said handle with the base of said U-shaped member positioned outwardly of said handle and extending through said bearing unit whereby said brush element is adapted for pivotal movement in a single plane relative to said handle, there being angularly spaced re:

cesses in said bearing unit, a detent carried by said U- shaped member and disposed to move into selected ones of said recesses whereby said brush element is held at selected positions relative to said handle, and bristles carried by said brush element and projecting outwardly in a direction to extend generally normal to said handle at all pivoted positions of said brush element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Phillips Mar. 16, House Nov. 2 6, Schroeder Apr. 4, Ubel July 14, 

